[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9109-9110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2504]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice--Computer Matching between the U.S. Department of 
Education and the Social Security Administration.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act 
of 1988, Pub. L. 100-503, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
guidelines on the conduct of computer matching programs, notice is 
hereby given of the renewal of the computer matching program between 
the U.S. Department of Education (ED) (recipient agency), and the 
Social Security Administration (SSA) (the source agency). This renewal 
of the computer matching program between SSA and ED will become 
effective as explained below.
    In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 
amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 
(Pub. L. 100-503), the OMB guidelines on the conduct of computer 
matching programs (see 54 FR 25818, June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular A-
130, we provide the following information:

1. Names of Participating Agencies

    The U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security 
Administration.

2. Purpose of the Match

    The purpose of this matching program between ED and SSA is to 
assist the Secretary of Education in her obligation to verify 
immigration status and social security numbers (SSN) under 20 U.S.C. 
1091(g) and (p). The SSA will verify the issuance of an SSN to, and the 
citizenship status of, those students and parents who provide their 
SSNs in the course of applying for aid under a student financial 
assistance program authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). Verification of this information by SSA 
will help ED satisfy its obligation to ensure that individuals applying 
for financial assistance meet eligibility requirements imposed by the 
HEA.
    Verification by this computer matching program effectuates the 
purpose of the HEA because it provides an efficient and comprehensive 
method of verifying the accuracy of each individual's SSN and claim to 
a citizenship status that permits that individual to qualify for Title 
IV, HEA assistance.

3. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    ED is authorized to participate in the matching program under 
sections 484(p) (20 U.S.C. 1091(p)); 484(g) (20 U.S.C. 1091(g)); 
483(a)(7) (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(7)); and 428B(f)(2) (20 U.S.C. 1078-
2(f)(2)) of the HEA.
    The SSA is authorized to participate in the matching program under 
section 1106(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1306(a)) and the 
regulations promulgated pursuant to that section (20 CFR part 401).

4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    The Federal Student Aid Application File (18-11-01), which contains 
the information to determine an applicant's eligibility for Federal 
student financial assistance, and the ED PIN Registration

[[Page 9110]]

System of Records (18-11-12), which contains the applicant's 
information to receive an ED PIN, will be matched against SSA's Master 
Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN Applications System, 
SSA/OEEAS, 60-0058, which maintains records about each individual who 
has applied for and obtained an SSN.

5. Privacy Impact Assessment

    Section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note) 
requires ED to conduct the following privacy impact assessment of this 
information collection:
    The information collected by ED under this computer matching 
agreement is the verification of SSNs and citizenship by SSA, for the 
purpose of assisting ED to satisfy its obligation to ensure that an 
individual applying for financial assistance meets the requirements 
imposed under the HEA. This verification is mandated by the HEA. The 
information obtained from SSA by ED will only be used as provided for 
under Section X of the agreement. Notice that ED verifies an 
individual's SSN through a computer matching agreement with agencies 
such as SSA is provided to individuals in the Privacy and Security 
section of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and in 
Federal student loan program forms; submission of a FAFSA and 
participation in the Federal student loan programs are voluntary. The 
information obtained from SSA under this computer matching agreement 
will be secured pursuant to the procedures described in Section IX of 
the agreement. No new system of records is being created for this 
collection because, as noted above, routine uses permitting the 
disclosure of records to allow for the verification of SSNs are already 
included in the Systems of Records Notices for Federal student aid 
programs. Thus, this collection comports with applicable Privacy Act 
standards and Section 208.

6. Effective Dates of the Matching Program

    This matching program must be approved by the Data Integrity Board 
of each agency. This matching agreement will become effective on: (1) 
April 10, 2006; (2) 40 days after the approved agreement is sent to 
Congress and OMB (or later if OMB objects to some or all of the 
agreement); or (3) 30 days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register, whichever date is last.
    The matching program will continue for 18 months after the 
effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 months 
thereafter, if the conditions specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(o)(2)(D) have 
been met.

7. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries

    Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program, or to 
obtain additional information about the program, including a copy of 
the computer matching agreement between ED and SSA, should contact Ms. 
Marya Dennis, Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Department of 
Education, Union Center Plaza, 830 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20202-5454. Telephone: (202) 377-3385. If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 
at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this 
Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable 
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/index.html.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: February 15, 2006.
Theresa S. Shaw,
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
[FR Doc. E6-2504 Filed 2-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P